Stem Cell Services

The Pluripotent Stem Cell Shared Resource facility provides three main types of services: expansion of pluripotent stem cells, the generation of pluripotent stem cells and Training.

1. Expansion of pluripotent stem cell lines – $500

This includes:

Initial mycoplasma testing and FISH analysis of the samples

The facility will not work with any samples that are mycoplasma positive.

Expansion of cells in either feeder or feeder free conditions

10 vials of frozen pluripotent stem cells.

Optional end stage analysis – an extra $300

Samples will be karyotyped and tested for mycoplasma.

2. Reprograming fibroblast – $2,500 (6-12 clones/line)

This process can take between 2-3 months.

Investigators can either provide us with at least 2 vials of frozen fibroblast cells or at least 3 wells of a 6 well plates. The fibroblasts should be of a low passage. They should be actively proliferating. Cells that have slow proliferation rate do not have a high success rate in being reprogramed. Upon receiving the samples, strategies will be discussed based on the proliferating rate of the fibroblast. If a new sample can not be obtained and investigator wishes to proceed forward with the reprograming, the investigator will bear the whole cost regardless of the outcome.

Initial Mycoplasma testing

The facility will only accept mycoplasma negative cells, please provide documentation of this when dropping of cells. We will repeat the test in the facility as well.

A choice between using Sendai Virus or mRNA reprograming will be made

Cells will be reprogramed

6-12 – Tra-1-81 positive colonies will be picked

At this point, if the investigator is with in Mount Sinai, they will be requested to come pick up the live culture. If the investigator is from a different institute, they will be mailed frozen colonies.

At the time of the hand over, the investigator may decide to have the facility expand and freeze 3-6 colonies as a ‘back up’ for an additional $500

Sometimes, for no apparent reason, fibroblast do not reprogram. In this case we will try a second attempt at reprogramming with altered strategies. At this time a price will be re-negotiated

3. Reprograming Blood using Sendai Virus – $4,060/sample & $450/clone

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) will be isolated from atleast 6 mL of bloodThe following is the breakdown of costs/sample